Chapter 11

After putting away all the supplies on the desk, Qin Yi slung his backpack over his shoulder and headed out of the teaching building. The June sky blazed like fire. Squinting, Qin Yi looked at Qin Rong, who was waiting on the sports field. The youth wore a white shirt on top and black school uniform pants below, standing silently and calmly in the middle of the field. There was an undeniable presence within that tranquility. The passing boys and girls could not help giving him a few extra glances, and some bolder girls even flashed Qin Rong dazzling smiles.

The sight filled Qin Yi with a hazy sense of pride. Such an outstanding, perfect boy had grown up under his watch. He was the brother bound to him by blood. What an exceptional, proud thing that was.

Qin Rong watched Qin Yi slowly make his way through the crowd toward him. On the youth's exquisite, androgynous face was a dazed look, as though recalling something from the past. In an instant, he seemed to isolate himself from the surrounding space. That distant, tranquil feeling made Qin Rong frown uncomfortably. As though trying to conceal it, he broke the silence. "How did your exams go?"

At that, Qin Yi curled his lips noncommittally. "Not bad, I guess."

After all, he had graduated from university and had Andre's Space to help him. If he still failed, he would have nothing to say for himself.

"That's good," Qin Rong replied absentmindedly. Then he glanced outside the school and said, "Mom and Dad are waiting outside. Let's hurry over."

"Mm." Qin Yi nodded, then followed the crowded stream of people out through the school gates.

Across the road, Qin Zhenguo and his wife were staring listlessly at the packed entrance. It was a blazing summer day, and the oppressive heat in the air had left them drenched in sweat. Scorching sunlight filtered through the willow branches, casting mottled shadows over them. Black and white patches of light fell across their faces and bodies. Cool, wet towels hung around their necks, ready to wipe away the sweat trickling down.

The moment Qin Yi and Qin Rong stepped out of the school gates, Qin Zhenguo spotted them. He immediately waved his arms and shouted their names, then hurried across the street with Qin Mom, trying to push through the dense crowd.

"Mom, Dad, just wait outside. We'll be out in a second!" Qin Yi shouted. Then he forcefully squeezed past the stalled crowd in front of him. By the time they reached the outer edge, both their clothes and hair were disheveled from the crush. Qin Yi's arm accidentally scraped against someone's backpack in the crowd, tearing the skin on his forearm. A long red mark stood out starkly against his jade-white skin.

Qin Mom pulled Qin Yi's arm over and rubbed it worriedly. "Be careful! Look, you scraped your skin. Does it hurt?"

"It's fine. I can't even feel it." Qin Yi withdrew his arm somewhat awkwardly, then said to Qin Mom, "Mom, I'm starving. What are we having for lunch?"

"I already booked a restaurant. We're having seafood," Qin Zhenguo said. More than ten years ago, Northeast China had still been closed-off and underdeveloped. Being able to eat seafood was no easy matter. Usually, only state-owned enterprises entertaining foreign guests and Hong Kong businessmen could go for seafood. They had gone to great lengths to book this seafood restaurant, all because the two boys had finished their high school entrance exams.

Qin Yi nodded happily after hearing that, then impatiently climbed into the family car and looked at Qin Zhenguo with anticipation written all over his face.

"All you know is how to eat." Qin Zhenguo laughed as he grumbled, then gestured for everyone to get in and drove toward the restaurant.

By the time they arrived, it was already past noon. The restaurant was bustling with people, and every seat in the main hall was occupied. The investment promotion department had probably brought some foreign businessmen here for a meal again. Qin Zhenguo led everyone straight to the counter and told the server, "I reserved a small private room yesterday."

"You must be Director Qin." The server immediately put on a professional smile. "We've kept it for you. Xiao Ji, take them to their room."

"Yes! Director Qin, this way." Xiao Ji, who had been standing nearby, got to his feet and said something in English. Qin Yi frowned imperceptibly and followed Xiao Ji without saying a word.

They followed the server upstairs, and the first room on the right was theirs. After entering, Qin Yi looked around curiously. It was bright, clean, neat, and spacious. However, Qin Yi had seen the luxurious furnishings of five-star hotels in his previous life, so naturally this place did not impress him. A hint of disdain appeared between his brows.

Xiao Ji, who had been feeling rather pleased with himself, frowned unhappily when he saw Qin Yi's expression. Still, his smugness faded somewhat. After handing the menu to Qin Zhenguo, he asked, "What would you like to order? We often receive foreign guests here, so we generally have whatever our customers ask for. Of course, the prices are a little high. Director Qin doesn't seem to come here often."

Qin Yi glanced back at Xiao Ji standing behind Qin Dad, then shifted his gaze to Qin Dad.

Qin Zhenguo did not normally eat much seafood, and as he flipped through the menu, he had no idea what to order. After thinking it over, he handed the menu to Qin Mom. Taking it, she said, "Since we're treating the children, let them order for themselves."

With that, she handed the menu to Qin Rong. Qin Rong casually passed it to Qin Yi. Without even looking at it, Qin Yi said to the server, "Four two-pound lobsters, four Australian abalones, and a bowl of bird's nest shark fin soup for each person. And add some hairy crabs."

A flicker of surprise flashed through Xiao Ji's eyes. He carefully examined Qin Yi, then said, "Um... we don't have any of that."

"...You can have it," Qin Yi said seriously as he looked at Xiao Ji.

"We really don't," Xiao Ji answered somewhat sheepishly.

"...Just bring it out. We're not short on money." Qin Yi pondered for a moment, then glanced at Qin Dad and spoke with utter sincerity.

"It's not about the money. We really don't have what you ordered," Xiao Ji finally lowered his head, his gaze darting away.

"If it's not a shortage of money, then it must be a shortage of competence," Qin Yi muttered. Without waiting for Xiao Ji to respond, he asked, "Then what do you have?"

"We have hairy crabs. We have half-pound lobsters," Xiao Ji answered quickly with a sigh of relief. "We just don't have Australian abalone."

"Oh?" Qin Yi raised his brows but said nothing.

"Would Guangzhou abalone be okay?" Xiao Ji thought for a moment and asked.

"That'll do." Qin Yi glanced at his family and answered casually.

"Alright, I'll go put in the order right away." Xiao Ji immediately picked up the thread. Before anyone could react, he opened the private room door.

"Wait!" A flash of inspiration struck Qin Yi, and he asked, "Do you have Scotland gravy noodles?"

"..." Xiao Ji looked blankly at everyone in the room, then cautiously asked, "Would Beijing fried sauce noodles do?"

"The gravy's free, right?" Qin Yi asked with a solemn expression.

"..."

"Alright!" Qin Zhenguo could not help laughing as he waved off Xiao Ji, who was on the verge of a breakdown. Then he said to Qin Yi, "Where'd you get so many wisecracks?"

"Just look at him!" Qin Yi curled his lips in displeasure. "His eyes were practically looking at the sky."

"That doesn't mean you should mock him like that." Qin Mom laughed as she scolded him. Yet the smile curling her lips made it sound more like praise.

Qin Rong also turned his head to glance at the smug Qin Yi, but he said nothing. Only the faint curve at the corner of his lips deepened slightly.

After eating and drinking their fill, Qin Yi patted his round belly and sprawled lazily against his chair. With his eyes narrowed in contentment, he looked like a little cat basking in the sun. Qin Rong lowered his head at the sight, and a trace of barely perceptible tenderness flickered through his usually cold eyes.

"You're all full, right?" Qin Zhenguo took out his wallet, signaling that it was time to pay the bill. Then he led everyone downstairs.

Just as they were about to open the door and leave, an American-accented cry of surprise suddenly came from behind them—

"Oh, Qin, is that really you?"

Author's note: A heartfelt call~~~ Leave a comment~~~ Leave your mark if you pass by~~ Awoo~~~~~~ I just saw it. I want to thank Youyue Huanzishuang for the landmine! Awoo~~~

Those Memories of the Past

Chapter 11

Qin Yi turned around instinctively. The speaker had blond hair and blue eyes, dressed like a typical foreigner. He looked around thirty-six or thirty-seven, and could barely be considered a handsome older man. At that moment, he was staring at Qin Zhenguo in astonishment.

Qin Yi instinctively followed the foreigner's gaze. His father, Qin Zhenguo, had darkened expression and furrowed sword-like brows, his face full of complicated emotions. Beside him, Qin Mom's eyes flickered as she glanced worriedly at Qin Dad from time to time.

The strange atmosphere made Qin Yi's heart skip a beat. He instinctively looked toward Qin Rong. Qin Rong expressionlessly took Qin Yi's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Strangely enough, Qin Yi's heart calmed down.

"Qin, don't you remember me? I'm Mark, Mark from M Country. We were best friends in university!" the handsome older man said with a wounded expression. "I recognized you just from your back!"

His gaze swept over Qin Mom standing nearby, and his eyes widened even further in shock. "My God! Isn't this Tang, the mysterious Oriental beauty who was known as the campus belle back then? Wasn't she your brother's fiancée? You two actually ended up together?"

Qin Yi listened to Mark's words, dumbfounded. For a moment, his mind could not process it—

This man knew his dad and mom!

This man had known his dad and mom in university!

This man had known his dad and mom when they attended university in M Country!

His dad and mom had attended university!

His dad and mom had attended university in M Country!

Those thoughts raced through Qin Yi's mind, ultimately freezing on the last one—his father, whom he had always thought had not even finished elementary school, had actually attended university, and in M Country at that.

Qin Yi stared in surprise and carefully sized up Qin Zhenguo. It was still that familiar face. Even his clothes, mannerisms, and little habits were every bit as tacky as in his previous life. Yet this Qin Dad had actually been an old-school overseas returnee who had gone to M Country for university back in the sixties or seventies.

But hadn't China been closed off from the world at the time? How had Dad studied abroad, and how had he returned? Was this real?

Qin Yi opened his mouth, but Qin Rong stopped him without drawing attention to it. Qin Yi looked curiously at Qin Rong, only to find that Qin Rong still wore the same calm, unreadable expression. Left with no choice, Qin Yi could only gloomily study his parents. They had actually hidden something from him, and they had kept it hidden for his entire life—

That realization left Qin Yi at a loss. At the same time, it frightened him somewhat. He knew for certain that nothing like this had happened in his previous life. Did that mean that, after being reborn, some things would change?

Qin Zhenguo did not notice Qin Yi's complicated thoughts. He merely looked at Mark with a mixture of emotions and said, "Of course I remember you. I just never thought we would have another chance to meet. It's been so many years..."

"Exactly!" Mark agreed with a nod. "Back then, we all thought you would win in the end. But you suddenly disappeared the day before the finals, letting your brother take the final victory. None of us could accept it."

Huh?

Mark's revelation stirred Qin Yi's curiosity again. He had not misheard—his dad actually had a biological brother? Hadn't his father said in his previous life that he was an orphan? How could he have a brother?

Qin Yi carefully thought back on his previous life and realized that, unlike everyone else, no one in the small city of S City seemed to know anything about his father's younger years. That was unbelievable for someone who claimed to have been born and raised in S City. Unless he had not lived in this city at all when he was young.